title: High-level CD34 expression on megakaryocytes independently predicts an adverse outcome in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: Expression of CD34 on mature-appearing megakaryocytes can be seen in various intrinsic bone marrow (BM) disorders as well as reactive bone marrows. In this study we investigate the clinical significance of CD34+ megakaryocytes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs). Expression of CD34 on megakaryocytes was assessed on BM biopsies obtained from 202 patients with MDS. High-level (≥20%) CD34 expression on megakaryocytes was found in BM of 29 patients (14%). The expression of CD34 on megakaryocytes is correlated with severe cytopenia, higher numbers of myeloblasts, more frequent and higher risk cytogenetic abnormalities, and a shorter overall survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that the expression of CD34 on megakaryocytes could be a strong and an independent poor prognostic factor in MDS, with a hazard ratio of 2.53.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Guilin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Sa A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dresser
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Woda
authors.forename: Suyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34